Night Smelt
Spirinchus starksi
Night smelt is a small, slender fish in the smelt family found along the Pacific coast. They are an important forage species for larger predatory fish and seabirds.
Night Smelt at a glance
- Scientific name
- Spirinchus starksi
- Typical size
- 3-6 inches
- Water
- Saltwater
- Habitat
- Inshore
- Rarity in the Fishdex™
- Common
Habitat
Night smelt inhabit nearshore waters and surf zones along sandy beaches from Alaska to California. They are typically caught by anglers using small nets or light tackle during nighttime spawning runs on beaches.
Catch one and it is yours
Log a night smelt through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your photo, your personal best, and the exact conditions on the day. The app also carries the slot and season rules for wherever you are standing.
How the Fishdex™ worksNight Smelt questions people ask
Night Smelt is Spirinchus starksi.
A typical night smelt runs 3-6 inches. Cobia records the length and weight of every night smelt you log and keeps your personal best on its Fishdex entry.
Night smelt inhabit nearshore waters and surf zones along sandy beaches from Alaska to California. They are typically caught by anglers using small nets or light tackle during nighttime spawning runs on beaches. It is a salt water species, filed under inshore in the Fishdex.
Yes. Log one through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your own photo, your personal best, and the conditions on the day you caught it. The app also carries the slot limits and season dates for wherever you are standing. It is free.
Tomorrow morning starts tonight
Set your home water, pick a drive radius, and wake up to a plan.
Android coming soon
iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Setup takes about a minute.